BIOGRAPHYI was born and raised in Lincolnshire, where the wild North Sea meets the gentle green-gold curves of the Wold, and I've known that I wanted to be a writer since I finished reading my first book; 'The Magic Faraway Tree' by Enid Blyton. I think I was about eight, but I've never changed my mind in all the years since then.

I got my first publishing contract when I was twenty-two, but had to wait until I was twenty-four to see my debut novel - The Swan Kingdom - published. It went on to be shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award and the Lincolnshire Young People's Book Award, and become a USBBY Outstanding International Book, among other honours.

Since then I've written many other books and have been lucky enough to win or be nominated for many other awards, including the Great Britain Sasakawa Prize and a second place in the Lancashire Book of the Year Awards. I have also received grants from the Royal Literary Fund and the Arts Council England.

I currently live in a little house in a town by the sea, with my two rescued cats, one called Hero after a Shakespearian character and one Echo after a nymph from a Greek myth. I also have a springer/cocker spaniel called Finbar (otherwise known as The Devil Hound).

My favourite colour is green. My favourite food is Chinese dim sum. My favourite songs are 'I Will Follow You Into the Dark' by Death Cab for Cutie and 'Spem in Alium' by Thomas Tallis.